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Neha, Nidhi and I were best friends. We used to be together in moments of happiness and sorrow. We were inseparable, always laughing and joking around. But things do not always stay the same….

One day Karan joined school, a naughty sporty good-looking boy. Many fell for him at the first sight, and our Neha was also in the list. In starting it was fun, we used to tease Neha and try to get them set with each other. We used to create situations, so that they get time to spend with each other and finally things started working out as we wanted it to be. One beautiful day, Neha gave us the great news that Karan proposed her and they were in a relationship now. I and Nidhi were very happy for both of them.

But situations had to change again, Karan flunked in science and Neha urged me to help him out with the subject as I was the subject topper. I started teaching him and he used to co-operate due to Neha’s pressure. One day Neha called me and informed that she has got jaundice and wont be able to come to school for around a month but she wanted me to continue helping Karan with science and do the impossible task of convincing him to study.

From the next day my struggle began. Running behind Karan as if I am not helping him out, he is helping me. In the middle of the topic, he will remember all the funny stories and try his best to distract me from the subject. Talk to him about anything other than science, he will be happy. Start talking about science and he will start making excuses to change the topic. So I had to spend hours to teach him one topic. Run behind him in school, go to his house, so that he can clear the next exam and does not get a year back. By god’s grace, he started understanding the subject and getting better with time.

But something was not going right. I fell for him…… In spite of knowing that it was the worst thing that could have happened to me at that point.

Like this:

We reached the mall, everyone scattered searching for their stuffs, even started checking some shirts. Then I heard Karan’s voice asking me “which colour do you think will suit me more”. He was holding two shirts, one blue checks and one black and blue stripe. I couldn’t believe but just said blue checks hesitantly, he had a similar shirt in school time and it used to suit him a lot.

He asked me “so you liked anything??”

I just said “I am still looking”

He replied “I just saw a Kurta there; I think it will suit you. Why don’t you give it a try?”

I was little uncomfortable, all of a sudden why this guy was acting so sticky. Till yesterday he was not even replying to my greetings then why all of a sudden he is acting so differently.

I said “but I don’t need any Kurta.”

He said “I am not asking you to buy it just try it, maybe you’ll need it after trying.”

I didn’t want to extend the argument and I just tried it, it was looking actually very nice. He had a good taste but I still didn’t want to buy it because he suggested me.

I told him” It didn’t fit me; It was looking weird on me”

He said “ohhh….. fine.”

Then I told him that “I am going to see Neha, I’ll catch you later.”

He smiled and said fine. His smile still had that magic which he had in school time. His eyes still seemed to hold lots of secrets, I wanted to stop and look deep into his eyes but that would have been crazy. I left with a fake smile.

In the night, I was standing on the terrace gazing at the stars. I was lost in the memories of the past and realities of present. Then again I heard Karan’s voice from back.

He said: “so what are you doing here alone??”

I replied: “Nothing.”

Karan: So how is Mumbai??

Me: It’s good.

Karan: and your office??

Me: Even that’s good.

Karan: So you committed??

Me: No but why are you asking this??

Karan: why can a handsome guy ask this question to a pretty lady??

Me: What do you mean??

Karan: Hahahahahah. Just kidding, you still get so serious on jokes.

Me: Really……

Karan: So you missed me??

Me: aaaaaaaaa……. Yeah.

Karan: Then why didn’t you ever try to contact me.

Luckily Nidhi came to call us for dinner and our conversation ended.

Next morning everyone was so busy with the marriage rituals. Even I was trying to help out. Then Karan came wearing the same shirt he bought yesterday and asked me “So, how do I look now??”

I replied: Nice.

Karan: Do you remember I had a similar shirt in school time? But I never liked that. I don’t know but I like this one.

Me: You are so stupid. Even that shirt used to suit you a lot.

Karan: oh so you do remember.

Me: Yeah a little.

I didn’t know what he wanted or what was he trying to prove. Yeah I used to love him in school time in spite he was my best friend Naina’s boyfriend but I didn’t do it knowingly. I have already paid for it; I lost Naina’s friendship and trust forever. At least Nidhi was the one who understood me and stood by my side. But now I don’t have any feelings for him and if I have also……. No, I don’t have…… TO BE CONTINUED…..

Like this:

I saw in the mirror, again everything was same, same mornings and same nights. Everything was so regular every day. I took my car and left for office. I reached office greeted everyone and sat on my table. But it was not even that regular, a card was waiting for me, a marriage invitation. It was my school time best friend who was getting married. I didn’t take a leave from two years but now I had to after all it was my best friend. We had shared so many memories. How could I say no but what about the upcoming presentation? I was the team leader for first time how can i ask for a leave but still it’s also been a long time living the same regular life. I started with my regular work still puzzled what should i do.

In the lunch time i got a call from me parents that some guy was coming to Mumbai to meet me and he will only be here for two days. I didn’t want to go for these arrange marriage stuffs so in hurry I said “I can’t meet him. I have to go to attend Nidhi’s marriage, remember my school friend”. My parents agreed. Now i had said that I was going to the marriage so i couldn’t change me words and i had to go but what about the work. I will have to finish it early and convince my boss that my juniors will be able to manage the presentation.

While packing i was lost in my school time memories, sounds of laughter and pain of tears, all those faces and all those voices. It just seemed like a dream and now i was going to relive that dream. Everyone must have changed so much. I was in touch with many of them on Facebook but some were out of trace. I even dint know who were coming and who were not. But there was someone whom i remembered completely and did not want to face again. I was little scared that what if even he comes and little relieved that it’s been a long time. He also must have forgotten everything and i will also act as i have forgotten everything.

The best part is that i was breaking the chain of me regular life and stepping out of it for a while. At least it will be good break. I got into the train and started reading some architectural magazine. I saw the girl sitting next to me reading some love story book. I smiled and continued with my magazine.

I reached Delhi early morning. Nidhi’s brother was coming to receive me. I reached Nidhi’s home greeted everyone and went to her room. She was looking all different from childhood, from a tom-boy girl to pretty young lady. Even though checking her photos regularly on facebook, i was still not able to believe my eyes and that I am finally standing in front of her. She was looking very beautiful and happy to see me. We both hugged each other and she started telling me how happy she was to see me. Then she started telling me who all are coming and already reached for the marriage. But I dint even have the courage to ask about him.

Sun had already gone, stars were twinkling, I was looking towards the stars and realizing how long it had been that life has been so peaceful, it’s been such a long time I couldn’t breathe so deep. I was just lost in the race of life without even noticing my heartbeat. And I heard a voice which was so recognizable even though I have heard it after ages. My heart lost its peace and started running fast. I was mentally prepared for this situation and thought I’ll be able to manage but I really didn’t want to face him now. Nidhi brought him towards me and said “this is Priya and this is Karan you guys must be remembering each other”. I said hello but he was damn quite as he dint hear anything. Then Neha and Suman also joined us and started talking about school memories.

I met Karan again at dinner. He was eating so silently as if he was completely out of the place. I didn’t even know whether I should talk to him or not. I was looking at him and he turned towards me. I just acted as I was so much involved in the discussion. I turned towards him again and realized that he was still looking towards me. I felt may be he is finding himself uncomfortable because of me. May be even he has not forgot everything till now. But we were kids at that time. There is no point being stuck in those moments. Whoever’s mistake was, we should move on. We were going to sleep, I said good night to everyone but again he dint reply anything.

In the morning some people were going for shopping even Karan was going but neither I had to buy anything nor I was feeling like going with him. I told everyone that I won’t be able to come but I really don’t know why Karan told “come no how can being a girl you can say no for shopping. If u doesn’t want to buy anything, at least explore the markets here may be you will like something or get something what you needed”. I again don’t know why but I couldn’t say anything and agreed to go for shopping…………. TO BE CONTINUED…….

Like this:

I don’t know what’s going on your mind,
but I know you don’t want to leave me alone.
I know you are not there to hold my hand,
but I also know that you don’t want to see me gone.

You asked me to trust and I tried to do,
but sometimes my faith starts shaking.
I know that I love you from core of my heart,
but sometimes my patience starts breaking.

The way you look at me assures your love,
but I m unable to read your silent lips.
Your touch takes me to another world,
but it’s still hard to continue our relationships.

I think you love me, I think you don’t.
I think you’ll come for me, I think you wont.
You told me, you’ll never hurt me but still you are doing so.
Don’t take me to a point where i’ll have to leave you and go.

I don’t know what should I ask from you.
I don’t want to force you for anything, just be true.
Just do me a favor don’t ever cheat me and
don’t do anything which makes me regret that i loved you.

Still deep inside my heart, there is a stupid wish.
The moment I die you sit beside me holding my hand
and say to me that “it was great sharing our lives”
Come to me, let’s together make our castles of sand.

As all of us know, there is a limited space on earth but our increasing population is creating many problems in our day to day life. Human density on earth is increasing day by day. Human civilization is also facing other problems like migration. Proper infrastructure and resources are available to very limited number of places, this causes people from other places to migrate to these places and resulting non-uniform human density distribution.

ARCHITECTURE IS MUCH MORE THAN WHAT IT APPEARS……..

Our space related problems need to be solved in the best possible way so that it maintains a balance between social life and personal life, comfort and health, technology and ancient culture. As we know, we all humans have different preferences, different likes and dislikes and different life styles. Also some of us are physically or mentally challenged which increases the need of an individual specific space. As climatic conditions and social culture also change from one place to another, space requirements also change. Most of us will agree that architecture and architects have played a very important role in solving these problems and made a great contribution in development of the quality of life.

DESIGN FOR SPECIALLY CHALLENGED PEOPLE…….

As basic facilities of life are not available to most of rural areas, people are forced to go to urban areas for fulfilment of their needs. Movement of people from rural to urban areas with population equating to urban migration is defined as urbanisation by United Nations. Urbanization is closely linked to modernization, industrialization and sociological process of rationalization. As more and more people leave villages and farms to live in cities, urban growth results. The rapid growth of cities like Chicago in the late 19th century and Shanghai a century later can be attributed largely to people from rural communities migrating there. This kind of growth is especially common in developing countries.

A VIEW OF SCENE CREATED BY URBANIZATION…….

Architects can solve problems to rapid urbanization by making it planned, so that we can be prepared for it and also by improving rural infrastructure to make them more self dependent. Greener suburban locations can also be developed, so that people can move there to avoid overcrowded cities. The construction of new towns by the Housing development board of Singapore, is an e.g. of planned urbanization. Urbanization can be planned urbanization or organic. Examples of planned urbanization are new town and garden city movement.

A VIEW OF PLANNED URBANIZATION…….

New urbanism is a movement in urban planning that began in 1990s and believes in shifting design focus from the car-centric development of suburbia and the business park to concentrated pedestrian and transit centric, walkable, mixed-use communities. New urbanism is an amalgamation of old-world design patterns merged with present day demands. It is a backlash to the age of suburban sprawl, which splintered communities and isolated people from each other, as well as had severe environmental impacts. Concepts for new urbanism include people and destinations into dense, vibrant communities and decreasing dependency on vehicular transportation as primary mode.

A VIEW OF NEW URBANISM……

Adoption of similar buildings and similar design and planning methodologies does not fit everywhere because local culture and practices varies from one place to another and also human values and dimension varies. We need to use a improved version of locally grown architecture which can maintain a balance between needs of today’s world and specific needs of that place. Architecture related to or characteristic of a period, place or group, especially, of relating to, or being the common building style of a period or place is called vernacular architecture.

A VIEW OF VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE……….

In many cases, vernacular settlements in India often take on the shape and form that is dictated by the climate they are in, or the socio-cultural norms that they are designed to preserve and protect. For example, village settlements in Uttaranchal are often characterised by houses of stone, timber and mud mortar on slopes, with thick stone walls of coursed rubble masonry designed to ward off cold, with a shelter for animals below the main house (the heat given off by mulch animals heats the house above further).In Kerala, village houses are slope-roofed with Mangalore tiles and thatch to draw off and channel rain. In Assam, the same houses are often built on stilts, the better to counter the often damp ground.

VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE IN BIHARGAON, SHIMLA, HMACHAL PRADESH

The list could go on, but in each case we see that vernacular architecture in India’s diverse regions has evolved a unique way of responding to the climate and the environment that is sustainable, shows an intelligent approach to the problems of climate and is a delicate balance of social and cultural factors through spatial vocabulary such as walls, courtyards, floors and semi-private and private spaces. Climate, of course is a predominant factor in determining the forms of vernacular architecture in India.

VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF NAGALAND…….

Climate in India varies from the scorching sun in the Gangetic plains to the tropical conditions of the south, from the dry cold climates in Spiti and Leh to the perennially damp conditions in the northeast of the country. This variation in climate spawns a diversity of forms of vernacular architecture. Apart from climate, geography too is a determining factor. Geography, once again can vary from the hilly terrain of the Himalayas and Kashmir, to the flats of the deccan and the south, from the damp ground of Assam and Bengal to the dry earth of Punjab.

TRADITIONAL BENGALI TEMPLE…….

The third factor is the availability of material and the types of material available. In Goa and Karnataka, an abundance of red laterite stone makes this the medium of choice for vernacular construction and in north India a clayey soil makes sunburnt bricks and mud mortar a commonly used medium. Bamboo construction can be found in the north east. Vernacularism in architecture has been upheld as a modern value, a tradition to be observed while designed for the new age.

TODA TRIBAL HUT, NILGIRI PLATEAU SOUTH INDIA……….

Followers of the vernacularism as a building tradition have been many. Among the most famous international examples have been that of Hassan Fathy, who in his numerous projects in Egypt replicated and rediscovered building traditions of the region that were thought to be dead, giving them a new meaning and relevance. Similarly, Le Corbusier, that most avid of Modernists, rediscovered the magic of the vernacular in his later projects such as the Rob-et-Roq housing, the monuments at Chandigarh and the chapel of Ron champ. Amongst Indian architects, Laurie Baker has been instrumental in giving new voice to a Kerala vernacular in brick, tiles and mortar. Similarly, Gerard da Cunha in Goa has been very innovative in his use of red laterite stone and re-interpreting Goa’s Portuguese and hybrid traditions and architectural vocabulary. A number of new and upcoming firms in north of the country promise to take this experiment further and to prevent India’s built traditions from completely disappearing.

DAR-UL-ISLAM BY HASSAN FAITHY……

Environment needed for today’s world includes high density neighbourhood, having connection on a transit network. It should have buildings that reflect local climate. It should be a mixed use mixed occupancy community including office, retail, hospitality, residential, industrial agricultural and institutional spaces. It should have buildings of different sizes, age and specification level.

A VIEW OF LOW RISE HIGH DENSITY OCCUPANCY……..

Architecture plays an important role in influencing the strategic planning of a region’s infrastructure, including provisions for transport, energy and waste. Idea of sustainable buildings and design quality contributes to development of quality of life. Architecture is a field which is connected to every aspect of life and without it’s contribution we can’t improve basic quality of life. Architecture covers such a wide range that we still don’t have a perfect definition for it but one thing is for sure, “architects and architecture have contributed a lot to the development of quality of life”.

I have heard this question many times. The first time I heard it was first day of my architecture college and last time was only few days’ back. But the interesting point is that I have always got a different answer for this same question……

Generally by architecture people refer to buildings. But is it really so…..is architecture only related to buildings??? ….. Why the word is even used by software people???….In what ways do it control or affect a building??? …… How does architecture affect our day to day life???…. There is a long list of questions whose answers we need to find out to get a clear picture of architecture…..

SEARCHING THE MEANING OF ARCHITECTURE....

Architecture is derived from the Latin word “architectura” which is derived from the German word “arkhitekton” meaning “chief builder/carpenter/mason”. If we go according to the definition given by Wikipedia “Architecture is the art and science of designing and constructing buildings and other structure for human use and shelter”. It is also defined as “both the process and product of planning, designing and construction”. Everyone has got their own definition of architecture. It depends upon your point of view that how you define it. Even world’s greatest architects had their own definition for it.

Anything that is ‘designed’ falls in the domain of architecture. “You employ stone, wood and concrete, and with these materials you build houses and palaces, that is construction, ingenuity is at work, but suddenly you touch my heart and do me good, I am happy and I say, this is beautiful, that is architecture,” –Le Corbusier

“What is architecture anyway? Is it the vast collection of the various buildings which have been built to please the varying taste of the various lords of mankind? I think not.

“No, I know that architecture is life; or at least it is life itself taking form and therefore it is the truest record of life as it was lived in the world yesterday, as it is lived today or ever will be lived. So architecture I know to be a Great Spirit….

“Architecture is that great living creative spirit which from generation to generation, from age to age, proceeds, persists, creates, according to the nature of man, and his circumstances as they change. That is really architecture.”

Some people also refer architecture as……”it is an expression of life.”

THE WAY WE LIVE....THE WAY WE BUILD....

Architecture is concerned with entire built environment around us or else we can say that it is concerned with the planning of entire space around us. For architecture to serve its purpose the space around us should be utilized in the best possible way satisfying our needs as well as our fascinations. Sometimes architecture is also referred as art + technology. When we go in depth, we realise that art and technology just behave as tools which architecture uses to serve its purpose more efficiently. Architecture also plays the role of story teller. Different architectural works tell stories about different civilizations, their ways of living, problems and achievements. As one civilization got influenced by other, so did its architecture.

The term “architecture” has been adopted to describe the activity of designing any kind of system, and is commonly used in describing information technology.

Architecture facilitates our buildings and our built spaces to serve us more efficiently. It takes into account important factors affecting the performance of buildings like lighting, ventilation, sustainability, durability, costing, quality and it’s social, environmental and economical impacts over the society.

Out of all the resources available to us, land is a very important one and in this time of population explosion we need to use it very efficiently. Architecture shows us ways how to plan our built spaces so that we can solve our problems regarding this resource. It tells us how to control the way our built spaces get affected and affect the environment around it. It makes our built spaces eco-friendly, energy efficient and suitable to the native climatic conditions. As we move from one place to another climate changes, culture changes and so does the architecture along with it. All of us are different with different preferences and also some of us are differently challenged. Architecture allows us to personalise our space according to our demands. Architecture is not only limited to physical experiences but it affects our emotional and spiritual experiences as well. The feeling of a palace and that of a church are completely different from each other. Architecture has the ability to control our moods, make us silent, excited, peaceful, scared etc. It has always satisfied our demands with the changing time whether it is Taj Mahal or Empire State building or our imagination of future buildings which enable us to have better lives; they always attempt to provide us the best. At different times it plays different roles in our lives. Somewhere it has been a symbol of life, somewhere of death, somewhere of war, somewhere of peace, somewhere of love and somewhere of hatred but it has always been there to show our reflection to us.